Dubai: Following its Board Meeting held in Dubai, the International Cricket Council (ICC), the global governing body for cricket, announced several strategic decisions aimed at ensuring the long-term growth and development of the sport. The most notable decision is the expansion of the number of teams participating in the Women’s World Cup.
The ICC has approved increasing the number of participating teams in the Women’s World Cup from 8 to 10, a move expected to significantly boost female cricket participation globally. Furthermore, the funding allocation for Associate Nations has been increased by 10 percent. These additional funds are intended to be utilized for improving cricket infrastructure and development initiatives within these countries, as the ICC stated that the funds will be specifically spent on cricket development.
The meeting also included a thorough review of matters concerning cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics. The ICC confirmed that the Men’s and Women’s cricket events in the 2028 Olympics will feature six teams each. These decisions aim to globalize the sport further.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also attended the meeting. Although the controversial Asia Cup trophy matter was not formally raised on the agenda, sources indicated that some board members informally approached representatives from Pakistan and India after the meeting. They urged both nations to resolve the trophy dispute through mutual understanding and cooperation. The PCB Chairman affirmed his view that the Asia Cup trophy issue absolutely “should be resolved.” Separately, the ICC approved issuing a tender for video game rights, with expected funds earmarked for improving infrastructure and development.
